Can Anyone Explain The Use Of 'hi' In The Thai Language

[bangkokrick]

Please can anyone explain the use of 'hi' in the Thai language. I hear this word a lot but cant work out the exact meaning. eg kin hi mot.

Eat all the food? so what does 'hi' mean.

Thanks,

Rick

[mangkorn]

That would something you hear in beer bars - but not among normal, everyday Thais, no?

[bangkokrick]

That would something you hear in beer bars - but not among normal, everyday Thais, no?

Thanks but i dont use beer bars. Maybe i should and then i might find out what it means and when to use it.

Rick

[ZukiSuzuki]

Hey there Rick-

In the situation that you mentioned it means, 'so that' or until'. E.g. 'Eat so that it all used up'. Eat until it all finished'

I don't know what Mangkorn is talking about but i can only guess that he is getting confused between 'Hai' and 'He'.

[bangkokrick]

Hey there Rick-

In the situation that you mentioned it means, 'so that'. E.g. 'Eat so that it all used up'.

I don't know what Mangkorn is talking about but i can only guess that he is getting confused between 'Hai' and 'He'.

Thanks Zuki that explains things perfectly. I was also confused by Mankorn's answer.

Cheers, Rick

[DavidHouston]

Please can anyone explain the use of 'hi' in the Thai language. I hear this word a lot but cant work out the exact meaning. eg kin hi mot.

Eat all the food? so what does 'hi' mean.

Thanks,

Rick

Rick,

I feel your pain; it is a tricky word to get one's mind around. The word "ให้" is a very common Thai verb which David Smyth calls a "causative" verb. Here is an excerpt from "Thai an Essential Grammar" by David Smyth, Routledge, section 5.11.1 - 5.11.2, pages 77 - 80. See http://www.amazon.com/Thai-Essential-Gramm...0045&sr=8-1.

" 'hay' can convey a range of meanings, from the zero coercion of 'to let someone do something' to the more forceful 'to have someone do something' and 'to make someone do something.'

The book contains more usages and definitions as well. In Thailand the Smyth book can be obtained at better book stores but it is pricy. Amazon charges $29 US for the paperback version.

[crewcut]

I thought that 'hi' meant give. In the context you mentioned above 'kin hi mot' I think that the 'hi' makes this into a command or order as in Eat all of your food up!

My Thai is fairly basic so I'm sure I'll be corrected if I haven't already.

CC.

[bangkokrick]

I thought that 'hi' meant give. In the context you mentioned above 'kin hi mot' I think that the 'hi' makes this into a command or order as in Eat all of your food up!

My Thai is fairly basic so I'm sure I'll be corrected if I haven't already.

CC.

Thanks for your answers guys.

I think i am getting the hang of it now.

Cheers, Rick

[bangkokrick]

OK another example of this word that confuses me as compared to the other example.

ow passport hai pom noi. Give your passport to me.

Please will you explain th use of hai in this case or indeed is it the same 'hai' 'hi'

Cheers Rick

[meadish_sweetball]

It's the same word but its function is not the same as in your first example. It all becomes clear when you can read the Thai and not rely on everybody's individual preferred transcription. The Thai word is still ให้

The construction is

ao X (pai/maa) hai Y

Give X to Y

ao nangsue pai hai khun khruu

"take the book and go give it to the teacher"

[bangkokrick]

It's the same word but its function is not the same as in your first example. It all becomes clear when you can read the Thai and not rely on everybody's individual preferred transcription. The Thai word is still ให้

The construction is

ao X (pai/maa) hai Y

Give X to Y

ao nangsue pai hai khun khruu

"take the book and go give it to the teacher"

Thanks for the explanation Meadish you have simplified the meaning for me. I think that you are correct in saying that the best way is to learn and understand the Thai script, so i think that i will give it yet another try, but hel_l i find it difficult.

Cheers, Rick

[paulsmithson]

a useful translation that fits the useage of the word and allows you to understand the sentence might be FOR

[meadish_sweetball]

Perhaps it would be a good idea to mention here that ให้ผมหนังสือ [ hâi pŏm năng-sĕu]* (a straight pattern translation of English 'Give me the book') is ungrammatical in Thai, so don't try using it. (It clashes with the causative function of ให้ that we discussed earlier.)

In Thai the object given needs to precede the recipient.

[bangkokrick]

Perhaps it would be a good idea to mention here that ให้ผมหนังสือ [ hâi pŏm năng-sĕu]* (a straight pattern translation of English 'Give me the book') is ungrammatical in Thai, so don't try using it. (It clashes with the causative function of ให้ that we discussed earlier.)

In Thai the object given needs to precede the recipient.

Thankyou all for your input as you make a lot more sense than the book/cd. I think that i will start to use the language forum more frequently now as i have a lot to learn from your experience with the language.

Cheers, Rick

[mangkorn]

Hey there Rick-

In the situation that you mentioned it means, 'so that' or until'. E.g. 'Eat so that it all used up'. Eat until it all finished'

I don't know what Mangkorn is talking about but i can only guess that he is getting confused between 'Hai' and 'He'.

Good guess - I was totally confused by the transliteration, once again. I've only seen the causative verb romanized as "hai," so I mistook it for that noun you mention.

Sorry about that. Never mind...

[mangkorn]

Please can anyone explain the use of 'hi' in the Thai language. I hear this word a lot but cant work out the exact meaning. eg kin hi mot.

Eat all the food? so what does 'hi' mean.

Thanks,

Rick

Rick,

I feel your pain; it is a tricky word to get one's mind around. The word "???" is a very common Thai verb which David Smyth calls a "causative" verb. Here is an excerpt from "Thai an Essential Grammar" by David Smyth, Routledge, section 5.11.1 - 5.11.2, pages 77 - 80. See http://www.amazon.com/Thai-Essential-Gramm...0045&sr=8-1.

" 'hay' can convey a range of meanings, from the zero coercion of 'to let someone do something' to the more forceful 'to have someone do something' and 'to make someone do something.'

The book contains more usages and definitions as well. In Thailand the Smyth book can be obtained at better book stores but it is pricy. Amazon charges $29 US for the paperback version.

David Smyth is a fine scholar, and his books should be bought and studied. Another book that also deserves a plug is Thai Reference Grammar, by James Higbie and Snea Thinsan. And it is less expensive than Smyth's Essential Grammar, for those who are scared off by the price.

The thing that made me immediately buy the Higbie/Thinsan book was the fact that it has an entire chapter titled: Using "Gaw." If there was ever a word that deserved an entire chapter, that is certainly the word.

It also has a full chapter on Using "Hai."

Cheers.

[bangkokrick]

Please can anyone explain the use of 'hi' in the Thai language. I hear this word a lot but cant work out the exact meaning. eg kin hi mot.

Eat all the food? so what does 'hi' mean.

Thanks,

Rick

Rick,

I feel your pain; it is a tricky word to get one's mind around. The word "???" is a very common Thai verb which David Smyth calls a "causative" verb. Here is an excerpt from "Thai an Essential Grammar" by David Smyth, Routledge, section 5.11.1 - 5.11.2, pages 77 - 80. See http://www.amazon.com/Thai-Essential-Gramm...0045&sr=8-1.

" 'hay' can convey a range of meanings, from the zero coercion of 'to let someone do something' to the more forceful 'to have someone do something' and 'to make someone do something.'

The book contains more usages and definitions as well. In Thailand the Smyth book can be obtained at better book stores but it is pricy. Amazon charges $29 US for the paperback version.

David Smyth is a fine scholar, and his books should be bought and studied. Another book that also deserves a plug is Thai Reference Grammar, by James Higbie and Snea Thinsan. And it is less expensive than Smyth's Essential Grammar, for those who are scared off by the price.

The thing that made me immediately buy the Higbie/Thinsan book was the fact that it has an entire chapter titled: Using "Gaw." If there was ever a word that deserved an entire chapter, that is certainly the word.

It also has a full chapter on Using "Hai."

Cheers.

Thanks Mangkorn i will check out the book that you mentioned. My missus help me a lot with the Thai language, but there are somethings that are difficult to translate. Hence the reason i came on line to ask the forum.

Best Regards,

Richard